TRIBUTE PAID TO MEMORY OF KING

Hawaiians Celebrate Centenary of Kamehameha III with Impressive Ceremony—Queen Liliuokalani Unveils Tablet to Mark Birthplace of Beloved Monarch

(From Wednesday Advertiser.)

The centenary of Kauikeaouli, Kamehameha III, was celebrated yesterday at Kawaiahao Church under the auspices of the Daughters of Hawaii. This old church, that has witnessed so many of the royal ceremonials of the Hawaiian people, was taxed to the utmost of its seating capacity. More than twenty-six hundred persons viewed the unveilling of the memorial tablet which had been prepared by the Daughters of Hawaii to mark the birthplace of “The Generous King” at Keauhou, in Kai-malino, Hawaii.

The tablet was hidden from view by the Royal Standard of Liliuokalani and a Hawaiian flag, both the property of and loaned by Hawaii’s venerable ex-queen for the sacred ceremonial.

The Queen and High Chiefess Elizabeth Kekaaniau Pratt, both of whom are lineal descendants of Keawe, the ancient king of Hawaii, and founder of the Kamehameha dynasty, were seated on either side of the memorial stone in the nave of the church. The palace chairs in which they sat were draped with ancient Hawaiian feather capes of priceless value.

Oldtime Dignitaries Attend.

Back of the Queen and High Chiefess Pratt were High Chiefs Beckley and Hoapili, clad in the ceremonial feather cloaks and helmets of the Royal Courtiers. High Chief Fred Kahapula Beckley, the spear-bearer, is a direct descendant through his father’s side from Kameeiamoku. High Chief Albert Kalaninoanoa Hoapili, the kahili bearer, is a lineal descendant of Kamanawa, the royal kahili bearer. These two therefore, in yesterday’s ceremony represented the spear-bearer and kahili bearer who are shown on the Hawaiian coat of arms and are descendants of the two chief court alii of Kamehameha I.

On either side of the royal court representatives were the kahili bearers in ordinary, sixteen young men from the Kamehameha School for Boys, robed in feather capes and the costumes of the warrior of old, representative of the court attendants.

The chancel and pulpit were tastefully decorated with beautiful ferns and palms while above was the Royal Standard of Kalakaua and the Hawaiian flags, both now the property of and loaned by the Kapiolani Estate.

Queen Releases Tablet Cover.

After the singing of a hymn “How Firm a Foundation,” Rev. Henry E. Poepoe gave the invocation. Then the royal chanter, Mrs. Naha Hakuole, chanted the koihonua or song of geneology of the king. After this the Queen drew the cord releasing her Royal Standard or personal flag while High Chiefess Pratt released the Hawaiian flag covering the tablet. This impressive ceremony was followed by the koihonua, “The Prayer of Live,” the most sacred of all the ancient songs or chants of the Hawaiian people, rendered by Mrs. Hakuole. The legend is that Kauikeaouli was born as one dead and that life was restored to the body of the royal babe in answer to this “Prayer of Life” changed by the court chanter a hundred years ago.

Succeeding this orations commemorative of the life and good deeds of Kamehameha were delivered by Judge A. S. Mahaulu, Rev. W. B. Oleson and Rev. John T. Gulick. At the close of Rev. Gulick’s sermon, in Hawaiian, the Kamehameha girls sang the Pauahi and Kamehameha songs dedicated to Mrs. Charles R. Bishop, the audience sang Hawaii Ponoi and Rev. Henry Parker gave the benediction.

Many Notables in Attendance.

Among those in attendance were Governor L. E. Pinkham, Judge Sanford B. Dole and Mrs. Dole, Chief Justice A. G. M. Robertson and Mrs. Robertson, Senator John C. Lane, W. R. Castle, W. O. Smith and many other prominent citizens.

The Hawaiian societies which took part in the centenary celebration were The Daughters of Hawaii, Kamehameha Lodge, Aha Hui Kaahumanu, the Daughters of the Warriors, the Chiefs of Hawaii, Aha Hui Oiwi Ona Wahine, Aha Na Pua O Hawaii and Aha Hui Poola O Na Wahine.

Queen Liliuokalani and High Chiefess Pratt are the only two living pupils of the historic Royal School or school for the children of the chiefs which was established by Kauikeaouli, Kamehameha the Third.

Biography of Kauikeaouli.

Kauikeaouli, the third Kamehameha, the son of Kamehameha and the Royal Princess Keopuolani was born at Keauhou, Kona. He was proclaimed king with the title of Kamehameha III, with Kaahumanu as regent during his minority, on June 6, 1825. In March 1833, he declared his minority to be at an end and asserted his claim to the sovereignty with Kinau as premier—”To take unto my possession the Islands for which my father has toiled, the power of life and death and the undivided sovereignty”; in these words did the king announce his intention to the chiefs.

A Declaration of Rights was assigned and promulgated by the king in June, 1839. This may be considered the Magna Charta of Hawaiian freedom, and was the first step toward the establishment of individual property rights, also a guarantee of religious liberty. The first Constitution was…

HONORS MEMORY OF KAMEHAMEHA III

QUEEN LILIUOKALANI

…proclaimed in October, 1840, and the right to hold land in fee simple in 1848. Kamehameha III died after a brief illness on December 15, 1854.

King Loved by People.

There are many incidents to show the loving, kindly, democratic nature of the good king. His memory will ever be dear to his people for his unselfish patriotism, for the liberal constitution which he granted them and for the gift of the right to hold land in fee simple. He loved his country and his people, and he it was who gave to his people at a thanksgiving service following the restoration of the flag by Admiral Thomas, that device of which they are ever fondly proud—”Ua mau ke ea o ka aina i ka pono.”—The life of the land is perpetuated in righteousness.

The committee on arrangements to whose efforts the success of the impressive centenary ceremonial was due consisted of Mrs. Eben P. Low, chairman, Miss Lucy Peabody, and Mesdames Emma Nakuina, L. A. Coney, C. F. Hart, Caroline Robinson, Edgar Henriques and F. M. Swanzy.

[You can find different information in different newspapers. When doing research, it is important to look at all available information, whether it be in Hawaiian or English or perhaps other languages as well!]

(Hawaiian Gazette, 3/20/1914, p. 7)